Earn your BM in Piano
The piano area at the University of Iowa School of Music is vibrant with artist-teachers who are active as soloists, chamber musicians, recording artists, clinicians, authors, and lecturers. Dedicated to a comprehensive and versatile educational approach, the piano area offers intensive instruction. The graduate program is among the most substantial in the U.S. and prepares students for rewarding careers in both teaching and in performance. The piano area is known for the personal attention students receive, supporting the individual musical interests of each student within the program of study.
The University of Iowa School of Music and its brand new state-of-the-art Voxman Music Building offers excellent facilities for pianists. We offer one of the best maintained stable of over 90 Steinway grand pianos, extraordinary recital and recording spaces, world-class acoustics, and beautiful rehearsal spaces.
Already applied and admitted to the university? Prepare to audition with the School of Music.
Requirements and program planning
All undergraduate piano majors are exclusively taught by piano professors. Requests for a particular professor are honored when at all possible.
Acceptance to undergraduate performance degree programs in the piano area is dependent upon a successful audition and the approval of the application materials by the Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies. The piano area gives priority for admission and scholarships to BM and BA candidates whose auditions and applications are completed by the last audition day of a given year. Later candidates will be considered for acceptance only.
Course Offerings
- Musicianship and Theory I (MUS:1201)*, 4 semester hours
- Musicianship and Theory II (MUS:1202), 4 semester hours
- Musicianship and Theory III (MUS:2203), 4 semester hours
- Musicianship and Theory IV (MUS:2204), 4 semester hours
- Recital Attendance (MUS:1210), 6 semester hours
- History of Western Music I (MUS:2301), 3 semester hours
- Note: Also meets General Education Requirement for Literary, Visual, and Performing Arts and Historical Perspectives.
- History of Western Music II (MUS:2302), 3 semester hours
- Note: Also meets General Education Requirement for Literary, Visual, and Performing Arts and Historical Perspectives.
- Techniques of Conducting (MUS:3625), 2 semester hours
*Entering students who do not have Advanced Placement (AP) or transfer credit should enroll in MUS:1201:0002, and take Placement Exam A, administered online in the summer before the start of the fall semester, to determine readiness for the sequence. Learn more about this process.
**Students will take a piano placement exam and may place out of one or both Group Piano classes based on their proficiency.
Select one of the following:
- Jazz Cultures America and Abroad (MUS:1009), 3 semester hours
- Note: Also meets General Education Requirement for Diversity and Inclusion and Literary, Visual, and Performing Arts.
- World Music (MUS:1310), 3 semester hours
- Note: Also meets General Education Requirement for Literary, Visual, and Performing Arts.
- Music of Latin America and Caribbean (MUS:2311), 3 semester hours
- Note: Also meets General Education Requirement for Diversity and Inclusion and Literary, Visual, and Performing Arts.
- Advanced Jazz History (MUS:4350), 3 semester hours
- Lower level applied lessons (MUS:2022), 8 semester hours*
- Upper level applied lessons (MUS:3022), 8 semester hours
- Major Ensemble (MUS:----), 8 semester hours**
- Senior Recital (MUS:4900), 1 semester hour
*A maximum of 6 semesters (12 semester hours) in lower-level applied instruction is allowed.
**Keyboard majors may substitute piano accompaniment or chamber music for major ensemble participation for a maximum of two semesters during their junior and/or senior years, with advisor consent.
Select 3 semester hours from these:
- Form and Analysis (MUS:2206), 3 semester hours
- Introduction to Jazz Improvisation (MUS:3001), 3 semester hours
- Instrumentation (MUS:3220), 2 semester hours
- Arranging for Band (MUS:3665), 2 to 3 semester hours
- Intermediate Jazz Improvisation (MUS:3710), 2 semester hours
- Jazz Theory (MUS:3750), 2 semester hours
- Counterpoint Before 1600 (MUS:4200), 3 semester hours
- Counterpoint After 1600 (MUS:4201), 3 semester hours
- Keyboard Harmony (MUS:4210), 1 to 2 semester hours
- Advanced Jazz Improvisation (MUS:4710), 2 semester hours
- Transcription (MUS:4750), 2 semester hours
- Methods of Teaching Piano (MUS:3400), 2 semester hours
- Piano Chamber Music (MUS:3481), 2 semester hours
Select one of the following:
- Group Instruction in Piano III (MUS:2213), 1 semester hour
- Jazz Theory at the Piano (MUS:3750), 2 semester hours
Choose from any music (MUS) courses, except those closed to music majors.
Recommended for piano majors:
- Piano Pedagogy I (MUS:5400), 2 semester hours
- Piano Pedagogy II (MUS:5401), 2 semester hours
- Piano Literature I (MUS:5410), 2 semester hours
- Piano Literature II (MUS:5411), 2 semester hours
Piano majors pursuing teacher licensure may also select music education classes as music electives:
- Band Methods and Materials (MUS:3630), 3 semester hours
- Instrumental Techniques (MUS:3605), 6 semester hours
- Instrumental Conducting (MUS:3635), 3 semester hours
- Choral Methods (EDTL:3640), 3 semester hours
- Choral Conducting and Lit. (EDTL:3645)
- Methods/Mats: General Music (EDTL:3620), 3 semester hours
- Communication and literacy
- Rhetoric, 4 semester hours
- Interpretation of Literature, 3 semester hours
- World Language, 0 to 16 semester hours
- Natural, qualitative, and social sciences
- Natural Sciences, 7 semester hours
- Quantitative or Formal Reasoning, 3 semester hours
- Social Sciences, 3 semester hours
- Culture, society, and the arts*
- Diversity and Inclusion, 3 semester hours
- Historical Perspectives, 3 semester hours
- International and Global Issues, 3 semester hours
- Literary, Visual, and Performing Arts, 3 semester hours
- Values and Culture, 3 semester hours
*Music majors may use up to three music courses (MUS) toward completing the General Education Requirements.
Create your academic path
You'll find degree overviews, requirements, course lists, academic plans, and more to help you plan your education and explore your possibilities.
Current course list
The MyUI Schedule displays registered courses for a particular session and is available to enrolled students. The list view includes course instructors, time and location, and features to drop courses or change sections.
Piano faculty
Alan Huckleberry
Réne Lecuona
Doreen Lee
Ksenia Nosikova
Tammie Walker
Practice and perform
Need to book a music room, request an accompanist, check out audition information, rent a locker, or use a recording studio? Visit the Music Callboard for all scheduling and policy information.